It’s that time of year again. World of Hyatt has announced upcoming category changes of its properties.
When will these changes come into effect?
The new categories will come into effect for bookings (not stays) made from 28 March 2023.
Here are a couple of examples:
- If you have made a booking before 28 March 2023, for a property that is going UP a category, you will not be affected by this change.
- If you have made a booking before 28 March 2023, for a property that is going DOWN a category, you will be refunded the difference in points.
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Recap: Redeeming Hyatt points
You do not need to have an elite membership status to enjoy the amazing World of Hyatt sweet spots.
Members can also purchase Hyatt points at good value all year round.
Hyatt properties have fixed calendars of peak and off-peak dates. This means that award rates will not be affected by last-minute events held in a particular city throughout the year. This sometimes gives you the fantastic opportunity to book cheap stays during a major event!
Here’s a recap of how World of Hyatt’s award chart looks like:
| Category | Off Peak | Standard | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3,500 | 5,000 | 6,500 |
| 2 | 6,500 | 8,000 | 9,500 |
| 3 | 9,000 | 12,000 | 15,000 |
| 4 | 12,000 | 15,000 | 18,000 |
| 5 | 17,000 | 20,000 | 23,000 |
| 6 | 21,000 | 25,000 | 29,000 |
| 7 | 25,000 | 30,000 | 35,000 |
| 8 | 35,000 | 40,000 | 45,000 |
Which properties are affected?
In general, some ultra luxury properties are going to cost more points and some great “lower-end” properties are going to be cheaper on points.
Notable properties going UP a category
Let’s start with the bad news.
Unfortunately, 6 properties from Suitesmile’s list of World of Hyatt Sweet Spots are going to cost more in points.
These are some notable properties that will be going up a category and will be more “expensive” for points redemptions:
| Property | Before 28 March | From 28 March |
|---|---|---|
| Hyatt Regency Dubai | Category 1 | Category 2 |
| Grand Hyatt Bali | Category 1 | Category 2 |
| Hyatt Regency Bali | Category 1 | Category 2 |
| Hyatt Place Amsterdam Airport | Category 1 | Category 2 |
| Grand Hyatt Bangkok | Category 2 | Category 3 |
| Hyatt Regency Amsterdam | Category 4 | Category 5 |
| Grand Hyatt Jeju | Category 4 | Category 5 |
| Park Hyatt Saigon | Category 4 | Category 5 |
| Viceroy Bali | Category 7 | Category 8 |
Notable properties going DOWN a category
Now for the good news.
These are some notable properties that will be going down a category and will be “cheaper” for points redemptions:
| Property | Before 28 March | From 28 March |
|---|---|---|
| Hyatt House Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport | Category 2 | Category 1 |
| Hyatt Place Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport | Category 2 | Category 1 |
| MUU Bangkok Hotel* | Category 3 | Category 2 |
| The Sukhothai Bangkok* | Category 4 | Category 3 |
*Complimentary breakfast for 2, room upgrade, early check-in and late check-out, regardless of membership status.
Unlike last year’s changes, we are only seeing a handful of high-value properties going down a category.
The 2 Paris airport properties can be useful for late-night arrivals or early-morning departures!
Bottom line
Phew, I was honestly expecting more Category 1 properties to go up a category.
Some properties, like the Grand Hyatt Bali, Hyatt Regency Bali, Story Hotel Malmo and maybe even the beautiful Grand Hyatt Jeju, which I stayed in a few weeks ago, are obvious candidates for a category change as they were almost too-good-to-be-true redemptions!
The good news? You can still book the current award rates for future stays (up till April 2024), by 27 March 2023.
And the even better news? You can take advantage of the upcoming Hyatt offer to stay in some properties for as little as 2,500 points per night, nett!
To reflect these award changes and normalizing post-pandemic cash rates, I will be updating Suitesmile’s list of World of Hyatt sweet spots soon. Stay tuned!